Flavonoid variation in Cannabis L.

Fifty-three individual plants of Cannabis saliva L., grown from seed obtained from nine countries, were analyzed for their flavonoid constituents. Compounds present were the C-glycoflavones vitexin, orientin, cytisoside, and an O″-glucoside of each. A C-glycuronide of luteolin was detected in several plants. Kaempferol and quercetin-3-0-diglucosides were also seen in many specimens. The distribution of compounds supported the subspecific treatment of the genus suggested by Small & Cronquist (1976). The data were less helpful in resolving trends amongst the varieties recognized by those authors. A considerable amount of plant to plant variation was observed.